Iowa State star Bridget Carleton's game-tying attempt from about 15-feet as time expired went off the mark.

The loss ends Iowa State's seven-game winning streak and perfect start to conference play which now includes a 3-1 mark. It was still a strong effort from Iowa State which nearly overcame a rough game for Carleton and even crawled out from a 13-point deficit.

"That was a great game, a great Big 12 game," said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. "I'm really proud of the effort of our team. Obviously, Texas is big, strong, talented and physical. But, the way we competed, we just couldn't get the ball in the basket at the right times."

Even Carleton, Iowa State's superstar, struggled, shooting just 1-for-10 from the field in the first half. She did heat up when it mattered most in the fourth quarter. She connected on three-straight shots and pulled Iowa State to within four of Texas. A pair of 3-pointers by Madison Wise and Ashley Joens tied the game with 44 seconds left. But Joens' game-tying 3 would be the last made basket for the Cyclones who shot just 23-67 from the field.

"I thought our kids did everything they could," Fennelly said. "You can't miss that many shots in a game like this."

Texas made them when they mattered most too, including their last four. Still, Iowa State stayed within striking distance with under a minute to play. But Iowa State's final two shots wouldn't go through. Point guard Alexa Middleton had her shot blocked and then Carleton missed her last attempt.

"I wish I would have probably attacked the basket and tried to get to the rim a little bit more," Carleton said. "But, it was a good look."

Carleton did finish with 20 points on 6-18 shooting from the field. She also had nine rebounds. Iowa State's Kristin Scott was the one that kept the Cyclones in things, finishing with 15 points on 6-9 shooting from the field. She also grabbed nine rebounds.

Scott helped the Cyclones even build a brief lead in the first half that grew to as many as eight after a 3-pointer by Joens in the second quarter. Texas answered with a 9-1 run. The two teams went into halftime tied 28-28.

A basket by Meredith Burkhall in the third quarter briefly gave Iowa State the lead. It ended up being the last time the Cyclones would have it. Texas then rattled off a 15-0 run. Later in the quarter, Fennelly was whistled for a technical.

"We came up two points short and probably that's my fault for the technical foul," Fennelly said. "So you can put that on me."

Iowa State fell to 13-3 on the season, dropping its first contest since Dec. 5. But Carleton believes Saturday's close call showed that the Cyclones are still a team to be reckoned with.

"We're right there," Carleton said.

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